Raymond Miller (Ray) Clark, passed away Saturday, Aug. 10, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge. He was 67 years old.
Ray was born in Ringgold, Ga., to Ralph Robinson and Gertrude Gibson Clark. He attended Ringgold High School and joined the U.S. Navy after graduation.
For most of the next 50 years, he served his country. Ray served 15 years in the Navy, serving throughout the duration of the Vietnam War. His military service was followed by 28 years working with various government contractors. He spent three years with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in Saudi Arabia and 25 years with the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control in Oak Ridge.
He attended school at the University of Idaho and the University of Louisville.
During his service to our country, he managed to visit 49 of the 50 states, approximately 25 foreign countries, and went the equivalent of three times around the world before fully circumnavigating the world from the east on his fourth and last trip. During his working career, he and his family lived around the world and the United States. His last years were spent in Oak Ridge, but his favorite part of the U.S. was the Northwest. He enjoyed the outdoors, camping, Dutch oven cooking, and simply being outdoors.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Coker Clark; and daughters; Kimberly (Jeff) Barnes, Stacy Coker (Wesley Hicks), and Hannah Noel Clark. He is also survived by brothers and sisters, Richard (Dick), Jo Ann Suchanek, Mary Jane Steward, Don, and Beverly Hawkins; and by three grandchildren, Joshua Barnes, Jacob Barnes, and Raina Gayle Hicks.
Graveside services will be held Sunday, Aug. 18, at 5 p.m. at Anderson Cemetery in Ringgold, Ga., with Rev. Brian Clark officiating.
Sharp Funeral Home is serving the family of Mr. Clark. Online condolences and messages to the family may be left at www.sharpfh.com.
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